For Julia

Julia staked out the Courthouse, watching the Judge's assigned parking space. He was noted for arriving early and leaving late. She needed to talk to him before their morning case. It was imperative. With her witness gone south and Sean DeLuca refusing to return her calls, she had few options left. All she could do was convince the Judge that she needed more time to rework the facts in the case, meaning the few facts left after all those associated with the ‘coerced’ confession were removed.

“Your Honor!” The man looked surprised at being waylaid on his way into his chambers.

“Counselor, you’re early.”

“Sir, I was wondering if I could have a word with you?” The Judge looked at her, the earnest regard of her eyes and the stubborn set of her jaw. Nodding he motioned her to follow him. This better be good.

Sean was still yawning when he hit the Courthouse. His answering machine had been blinking with all the new messages, but he ignored it. He didn’t make it home ‘til almost four in the morning, and he had to be at the Courthouse by eight. The beautiful fierce ADA was going to rip him a new one for being tired and on the verge of sleep. Sean smiled to himself and wondered if he was destined to start a new kink or fetish. The collection of women’s high heels. What could be wrong with that? He made a mental note to ask his therapist later.

“ADA Mac.” Sean said simply as he tossed himself into a chair in the meeting room assigned to the Prosecution.

“You!” Sean groaned at the tone. Those rich disproving tones were like music to his tired soul. “Where the hell have ya been? I called, and called, and called. Do you even bother to listen to your messages?”

“Normally, yes. But since I didn’t get home until around four in the morning, and needed some sleep before facing your lovely beaming face...no.” Sean straightened up just in case he needed to dodge a flying shoe. “Did you call?”

She looked at him and tried to curb her anger. “Call? Did I call? Try all day yesterday!” She looked at him with her eyes narrowing in anger. “I don’t care where you were or what or who you were doing. Ever try calling home to answer your damn machine?”

Sean sighed. “For your information I was on a stakeout. The same case I already mentioned that looks serial. You might have read about it in the papers?” Sean leaned over to get in her face. “Contrary to your belief, I do have other things and events in my life that take away from my time. Your damn case is one year old to me, and believe it or not, I have other cases. Ones that are more pressing and need my attention now!”

“Well that’s just too bad! Because this case just moved to the forefront.” She stood up and gathered her stuff into the briefcase. “Follow me. I have to file this Motion for Continuance upstairs, and I’ll tell you exactly what you’re going to be doing over the next seventy-two hours.”

Sean groaned and stood up to follow her. F-ucking-A! He needed to find a different class of woman to attract him, maybe something in the Suzie Homemaker Department because these strong sassy women were more trouble than they were worth at times. So damn high maintenance.

“Those are some nice strappy-looking shoes, Mac. Hope to see one up close real soon.” Sean said on the way to the elevator smirking at her low growl. She pressed the call button for Up and stood fuming at the elevator, ignoring him. “So perhaps you’ll get over yourself and tell me what the hell happened, and how it involves me?”

“Perdy went south.” She stepped into the elevator.

“Perdy? The bookman? The small squeamish-looking CPA that ran books on the gun operation? That Perdy?”

“That Perdy. Our witness.” Julia pressed the button for the sixth floor for the Clerk's office. “He was taken early this weekend.”

Sean hit the Stop button. “Taken? He didn't walk? He was taken?”

Julia hit the Run button. “Taken. I said taken, and I meant taken .”

“How does this affect me?” Sean hit the Stop button again. “Witness protection comes under the DA’s office domain. I found the witness, provided the witness plus all other pertinent materials for the case, so tell me how this affects me?”

Julia hit the Run button again. “It affects you personally, Officer , because you are going to get me my damn witness back!”

“The hell I am! And it is Detective !” Sean gabbed at the Stop button again.

“You will if you value your job!” Julia hit the Run button.

Sean reached around her and hit the Stop button. “Threats! You’re threatening me, again! I told you,” he pulled her close to him menacingly, “don’t make threats to me that you aren’t willing to back up!”

“Oh, I’ll back this up, Detective!” She pushed him away from her and hit the Run button. He hit the Stop and she hit the Run again. Sean calmly stopped the elevator yet again. “Stop that!” They stood toe to toe, both refusing to back down as they kept stopping and running the elevator.

BRIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGG!

"Okay, that's not good." Julia said looking up at the ceiling of the elevator trying to locate the alarm.

"Now, don't panic, it was just the....." Sean watched her beginning to pace around the small cubicle.

"Alarm, just the alarm, as in the elevator is broken. I just knew it. I get into an elevator with you, and it breaks. Fix it! Fix it now!" The stupid scruffy-headed cop was breathing all the air and taking all the space!

“Hey, I didn’t break it! Do I look like a frickin’ elevator repairman?” Sean watched her pacing increase along with her agitation.

“You did too break it! All the turning it off. Did it occur to you that elevators are supposed to run? I’ve seen “Speed” and I know what can happen in elevators.” Sean frowned as she seemed on the verge of hyperventilation. “I’m stuck in the elevator on the verge of dying, and it has to be with you!”

Julia looked over and watched Sean desperately pushing at the buttons, and trying to pry the doors open. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m getting out of here before I pour an entire week of therapy down the f-ucking drain! Stand aside.”

“Therapy! I knew it. I knew you weren’t all there. It was evident from the moment I first met you.”

“What?” Sean looked at her like she was deranged.

“You ate your chicken wrong.” Aw f-uck! Sean doubled his efforts to open the doors. She was too perfect and soon she was going to start yelling at him. This was bad, real bad. “Any man that shreds his chicken has to be wrong. Just pick up the pieces and bite into it, but no! No, you tore yours off in pieces and then...”

Fine. "You know, I've been thinking, Mac...and no smartass remarks about how I shouldn't think...anyway, I've been thinking that you spend too much time wondering about me, noticing me and thinking about me.”

“I do not! I don’t think of you at all, you gnarly headed, two-bit...”

“Oh god, that did it!” Sean c-ocked his head and studied her considering. Coming to a decision he walked over to her personal space. "I think I'll do something like this....you know, try to get your mind off of thinking about me, so to speak....."

Sean put one hand on each of Julia's arms, then pulled her in close, bent his head and kissed her. Kissed her long, hard and deep. And she couldn't have moved, even if she'd wanted to, because when Sean grabbed her arms, he'd kind of lifted and Julia wasn't exactly touching the ground. She was like - dangling.

Moaning deep in his throat, he felt her hands go to his hair and sink in the unruly curls, pulling them with surprising strength. He moaned even louder at the tugging and the slight pull of pain. Moving quickly he pushed her into the closed door, crowding her with his body while sucking her tongue into his mouth almost coming when she bit him hard.

Moving away from her a little, but using his hard body to keep her pinned up against the door, he met her eyes. They stared at each other, both breathing heavily, and his eyes dropped back to her mouth as her teeth pulled her lip into her mouth and bit.

“Oh yeah, do that again,” he said huskily.

She cleared her throat and whispered back in a soft throaty voice. “Do what?”

“Kiss me, bite me again.” Sean leaned in and took her mouth in another searing kiss and he grabbed her leg and brought it up high to rest on his hip. He kept her pinned and dangling on the door, not moving away far enough or long enough to give her a chance to think.

Julia moved her hands up under his jacket, and pulled his shirt from the waistband of his pants, not noticing his hand unbuttoning the front of her blouse. Her hand ran up the smoothness of his back, enjoying the movement of muscles under her fingertips as he moved his mouth down her neck nipping the skin along the way. It was the feel of his hands on her exposed flesh from where he opened her blouse that sent her moaning.

The kiss seemed to go on forever....and Julia just dangled and kissed back. Until Sean dropped her on the ground when the elevator started moving.

"Yeah, that's what I do when people send me offers disguised as threats.....well, except the dropping part. I wouldn't have normally dropped you, but it just seemed appropriate." Sean leaned down and looked at her. “So what will you give me if... if I find your missing witness?”

Before Julia could answer, the elevator began its quick climb to the sixth floor. The doors opened and Sean stepped out. He turned, looked down and asked, "Need help up?"

Julia was thirty-two years old. Had a law degree. Her IQ was impressive and this chicken-sh-it Detective had a way of making her lose all control, even while sitting on the floor of the elevator. There was only one recourse she could think of, so she stuck out her tongue at Detective Sean DeLuca.

She got up, straightened her clothing with great dignity and walked out, smiling at the ten people waiting to get on . Going up to Sean, she stepped into his personal space and calmly, coldly said to him in a no-nonsense tone, “I’ll tell you what I’ll give you! I’ll let you keep that worthless piece of tin that gives your life some meaning as you rut around in your pathetic alpha-male strut. In exactly seventy-two hours, or three days from this moment if you need a calculator, you will have my witness here in this very spot or you will be looking for a new job!”

Sean just laughed and stepped back on the elevator with the rest of the people holding the door open. “Hold onto those shoes, Mac. I’ll see you in three days, and...by the way...your blouse is unbuttoned.” He smiled at her outraged face as the elevator doors closed. Sean calmly turned to the man standing beside him on the trip down to first floor. “My wife.” The entire elevator of people all just nodded their heads in understanding. It was obvious. “Hey,” Sean asked the general public, “does my hair look gnarly?” Sean listened to the people give their opinions knowing that if it did it was a certain ADA’s fault since she ran her fingers through it.

~~~

Michael was running late. Maria was moving sluggishly that morning and he had a hard time coaxing her from bed. He didn’t want to think that their relationship would suffer from what happen the night before, but Maria was a little less than energetic.

The ringing of the phone made him swear as he waited for Maria to get out of the bathroom. She came to stand in the door with only a towel on while she dried her hair. Michael saw the bruising and black marks on her shoulder and back and he winced. He was a beast.

Answering the phone, Michael was surprised to hear Kyle’s voice. Narrowing his eyes, he listened carefully.

“Hey? Michael?”

“Yeah. Kyle?”

“Hey, man...look I was just calling to let you know that I’m calling in sick for a few days. Totally sick, bad...real bad.” Michael listened to the too healthy sound of Kyle’s voice and frowned. Uh huh. Sure.

It was the giggling in the background that made him ask. “What’s going on, Kyle?”

“Would you care for a drink?” Michael’s eyes narrowed even more.

“Look, can’t talk right now, but I’ll be back to work late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.” Michael just stared at the phone in disbelief as Kyle hung it up without even a goodbye.

“Kyle?” Maria asked as she brushed out her hair.

Michael looked at her critically. She had dark rings under her eyes. He still thought she looked too thin, and he could feel her nausea just barely under control.

Michael went to stand near her. “Yeah. He called in sick.”

Maria just nodded. Yeah that sounded about right. “Guess that means my assistant is also sick?” Maria lifted her eyebrow at Michael in a knowing gesture.

He just smirked slightly, but looked at her again. “You look tired, Professor. Do you think you should take the day off?”

Maria kissed him gently and patted his cheek. “You worry too much. As soon as the morning sickness wears off, I’ll be in fine form!”

Michael laughed at that. Yes, yes she would be. “Try eating nothing too disgusting, please? People are starting to stare at me in horror.”

Maria laughed in delight at his expression and kissed him harder, running her tongue along his teeth, pulling his tongue in her mouth for a quick suck.

“Big baby!” Maria pulled away and pushed him towards the stairs. “Go, you don’t have to wait for me. Go to work!”

Michael nodded and headed off, but at the last moment detoured and pulled her in close again. Kissing her with rough passion and just happy that she wasn’t letting last night's decision taint their relationship, Michael felt the rush from her. “Love you, Professor.” And Maria watched his boyish smile as he rushed down the stairs to take his bike to work, terrorizing the streets of Roswell along the way.

Maria was trying to find the baby cat. Mr. Booboo had gone out early on a hunting expedition, and she had yet to see him since getting up. Giving up, she left him food and fresh water in his dishes and cut up some pieces of fresh turkey. Her classes were having a research week, which meant they were required to meet in the Library to participate in special information sessions run by Library Science. Thus she had no lectures until later in the week and her mission was to tackle some of the mess on her desk and do some work at the Museum over the next few days.

It was the opening of the loft door that clued her into how ridiculous her plans were. Amy stood in the doorway looking battered and harried.

“Mom?” Maria moved slowly to her normally unflappable mother on the verge of a real meltdown.

“Honey, oh honey!        It’s terrible! I’ve got so much to do and despite all the planning, at such short notice, it’s just too much. The flowers need to be special-ordered and the orchids I want need to be flown in from Hawaii. The menu is a mess because Jim is demanding cocktail weenies, and it doesn’t go with cheese soufflé. My dress, it’s arrived, but needs to be fitted, and your dress…such a dream, but the other bridesmaid’s dresses are all wrong. The Club won’t let me have the room next Saturday evening, and...”

“Mom! Mom... Mom! ” Maria finally got her attention. Smiling at her beautiful flustered mother, was it no wonder Jim Valenti loved her. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Married!” Maria listened as her mother actually squeaked. “I’m, me...the two of us, Jim that is, are getting married.” Amy calmed down to enough to breathe.

“I know.”

“No! Saturday, at four p.m. at the Church. Oh god!” Maria calmly led Amy to a seat and pushed her head between her legs.

“Okay, breathe, just breathe. You’re on a boat adrift at sea, and the gentle sway of the swells is lulling you to sleep. Just relax, calm...calm...all is right with the world. Okay, married this coming weekend? What do you have done?” Maria asked calmly. Amy looked at her beloved daughter and dumped a pile of papers, receipts, and booklets on her lap.

“Nothing!” Amy put her head back down breathing deep. Letting it go, just letting it go.

“Oh!” Maria quickly searched through the mess with a sigh of resignation, but giving her mom a quick kiss on the head, Maria called her secretary to tell her that she was home all day and direct any calls that way.

The doorbell rang, and Maria kissed her mom again and went to answer it. Shocked she stood dumbfounded looking at Isabel Evans and Liz Parker on her doorstep.

“Hi?” Maria was uncertain what to do or say with two extremely perky and smiling women on her doorstep.

“Maria,” Liz said practically bouncing in excitement. “I met Isabel, and we're going to be roommates!”

“Oh! That is exciting. I was planning to introduce the two of you. How did you...”

“Sean,” said Isabel as she walked past Maria to enter the room.

It was the weak calling of her name, that took Maria back to her mom’s side. Pausing in the kitchen, she grabbed a paper bag and handed it to her mom.

“Oh, gosh, Ms. DeLuca, I...are you okay?” Liz hurried to shut the door and joined Maria next to Amy still sitting in at the dining room table slowly breathing in a bag. Amy just nodded reassuringly.

“Don’t worry, panic attacks are the mainstay of DeLuca existence. I think Sean gets them in some form, not that he would admit it.” Maria went to get her mom some water.

“What happened?” Liz asked looking concerned at Amy while patting her hand.

“Wedding date was moved up and confirmed by Jim.” Maria said going back to put all the wedding stuff on the table.

“Great! A confirmed date. When is it?” Liz asked nicely with a huge smile.

“Saturday.” Maria said as Amy moaned and put her head back down.

Liz gulped and looked nervously at the mother and daughter team. “That’s okay right? I mean this wedding has been in the making for over a year so everything must already be planned, right?”

“Honey, I feel sick.” Maria took her mom’s arm and with Isabel’s help led her to the smaller bedroom.

After came back from the downstairs’ room from leaving Amy resting with a wet cloth on her head, Maria critically looked at the two other women.

“Okay, what’s going on?”

“Maria, remember when you told me that there was a loft you knew about that I might like, but I would need a roommate? Well, Parker is looking for a place too, and so we decided to team up.” Isabel said looking at Liz for support since she knew Maria better than she did.

“Sean was telling us this weekend that you were talking about lofts in this complex. He said there were five lofts still needing to be renovated.” Liz looked at Isabel quickly and continued. “We were hoping you could introduce us to the landlord, and maybe we could convince him to renovate.”

Maria looked at the two girls and went into the kitchen to make some tea. Setting up the cups and an extra one for Amy, Maria thought about it.

“The lofts do need renovating. They have no set floor plan and it would take a lot of work to get another one fixed. How soon do you need it?” Maria asked casually.

“Well Liz is living at home and can stay there until it's ready, and I can stay at Max’s place. We’re willing to wait for a place that’s like your loft.” Isabel said watching Maria make the tea. She was very quiet, and Isabel frowned at the dark rings under her eyes. “Maria, are you okay?”

Maria just nodded. “Just a little tired.” Maria took the tea and sat down at the table. Isabel and Liz joined her. “The lofts are expensive to maintain. The heating cost and air conditioning can be incredible, even with really good insulation. It’s just so much open space. That why I told you, Isabel, that you would probably need a roommate.” Maria looked at the pile of materials her mother brought over in horror. This was going to be a nightmare.

Maria suddenly looked up at Liz Parker, noted neat freak and the only person to ever successful clean her office at the museum. Then she looked at Isabel and speculated a little.

“Isabel, how are you at organization?”

Isabel frowned and shrugged at Liz. “I was called The Christmas Nazi by my family, because I used to harass them with my obsessive organization and planning of Christmas every year.”

Maria smiled. “We can make a deal!” Liz and Isabel shared a joint look. For some reason, Maria’s look in her eye had them a little nervous.

“Deal?” Liz asked with a slight stutter to her voice.

“I’ll take you to go look at the loft areas and make arrangements about getting you into one, if... if the two of you help me help my poor mom get this damn wedding done. We are looking at a deadline of Saturday at four p.m. and I want it to be special.”

“You’ll get us a loft?” Isabel asked, wanting to be clear on what Maria was offering. “The one that could share your gardens?”

Maria laughed. “How did you know there was a loft available that could open up to the garden?” Maria thought for a second. “Never mind. Sean...it had to be Sean.” Maria got up and motioned for the other two to follow her. “Come on, let go look at the space first. All the lofts are different sizes, so the corner one you’re talking about is smaller than the others, but has a better location. You might want to look at the five open spaces before deciding.”

They left Amy resting, and took a walk. Isabel and Liz noticed Maria grabbing a passkey. They went out of the garage and came to the main warehouse building.

“There are two available on this side. Margo and Mrs. Mulhoney live here. Margo has the end loft with two faces. She’s an artist and her loft was built to give her optimum light and exposure. Mrs. Mulhoney is a special tenant. Her husband died a few years back, and all her children have moved away. She lives on a small pension and social security. So a rule to living in the lofts is that everyone takes care of her. She’s in her eighties.”

Liz and Isabel noticed the door opening and a sweet little old woman looked out. “Maria! Maria, honey?”

“Hi, Mrs. Mulhoney, how are you today?”

The timid little woman came out and actually kissed Maria on the cheek. “I’m fine, dear. Michael told me he would come move my furniture for me this last weekend, but he didn’t. Is he sick?”

Maria laughed and shook her head. “No. He’s fine. I’m so sorry. We went out of town unexpectedly this weekend to Florida to my Family’s home. Michael will be upset when he remembers he forgot to come by, or at least make arrangements for later.” Maria put her arm around the frail woman’s shoulders and walked with her back to her loft. “You didn’t try moving it yourself did you?” The woman had the chagrin to look guilty. “Oh dear, well I’ll send Michael over this evening to take care of it for you, or maybe Sean.”

The woman perked up considerably. “Thank you dear! I’ll have to make him some of his favorite cookies. My poor boy is looking thin lately, and for that matter so are you.” Maria just smiled and kissed her neighbor goodbye.

“Her poor boy?” Isabel asked politely.

“Michael. When he first moved in she used to walk to the store for groceries. He caught her struggling with her little cart and fixed it for her. She’s mothered him ever since. Makes him cookies, gives him chores and advice...” Isabel just looked at Maria in shock. “She's more of a grandmother, I guess. He spent an entire day changing all her light fixtures one weekend. I think he gained ten pounds by the time he was finished.”

“So there are two lofts on this side, between the garages and her loft?” Liz asked.

“Yeah. All the loft apartment fronts have been done to match, but their interiors are basically just a huge warehouse room. They need to be built. The two inner lofts are huge.” Maria took them inside one and Liz and Isabel stood in the huge open space looking at all the possibilities.

The went back outside and rounded the corner past Margo’s loft. “Margo is an artist, mostly abstracts. She’s a little shy, and really hasn’t sold much of her work. Basically, I lift a few pieces a year from her and sell them to a local gallery, but she's good enough for a showing here or even Albuquerque. I’m still working on her. She sells enough locally to keep her comfortably through the year and buy her artist supplies, but she could make more.”

Isabel’s eyes narrowed. That couldn’t be all. There had to be more. “So what’s her story? Why is she here?”

Maria just shrugged. “When she was a teenager, she ran away from home. Lived on the streets for awhile. Sean found her. Anyway, she has some scars--nothing too noticeable. Her step-father used to spray lighter fluid on her skin and set it on fire.” Maria looked at the two women. “She doesn’t come out much. I arranged for the stores in this area to deliver for her, and Zeke next door set her up with a computer system to do online ordering. She orders her groceries and stuff online, and the stores deliver.”

“Why doesn’t she just phone in an order?” Liz asked.

“She doesn’t talk.” Maria said.

“How old is she?” Isabel asked.

“Margo?” Both Liz and Isabel nodded. “Twenty-two going on a hundred. She ran away when she was fifteen. Sean found her five years ago, but she had already lived on the streets for about two years, mostly the sewers. She was defacing property when he found her. She made incredible wall murals on the sides of buildings. She was very talented. Still is.”

Liz was getting the picture. “And Zeke?”

“Oh Zeke!” Maria smiled big. “Michael found him last year. He’s only lived in the lofts about eight months. He’s only sixteen.”

“Sixteen?” Isabel looked at Liz and then at Maria. “How is that possible?”

“Zeke was in foster care with a really abusive parent. A man named Hank. He was horrible. Anyway, Zeke was sort of a bad kid, and he and Michael had some run-ins. But there was something about him, something that Michael seemed to respect and understand. Anyway, just about year ago when Michael first moved in with me, Zeke showed up on our doorstep. Hanks had almost beaten him to death. He stayed with us for a few months, and we helped him get emancipated so he didn’t have to go back. We tried to foster him, but Zeke wanted out of the system. Anyway, he gets to live in the lofts as long as he goes to school. While he was recovering we bought him a computer and he’s never looked back. He wrote a few programs and interactive games, and with Jonathan’s help he sold them. Now he runs an online company and goes to school.” Maria laughed. “He and Michael play pickup basketball on the weekends, and believe it or not we make all his school events with Margo and Mrs. Mulhoney. Margo only comes out for Zeke.”

“So basically everyone here has a story, a hardship or a disability.” Isabel asked.

Maria looked at her and shook her head. “No. Everyone who lives here is a survivor. They don’t live their lives by anyone else’s rules, or by anyone’s leave. They create and live by their own hands and determination. Second chances don’t always come easy, but those who take them find a new strength in living. Nothing is perfect. Sometimes it takes years to get to that place where you just feel good, but every new start begins with a step, and then numerous steps afterwards.” Maria showed them the first two lofts after Zeke’s, and finally they entered the last one. It was the end one with access to the gardens. The natural opening that would have existed between the larger warehouse and the smaller annex that was Maria’s place was closed off by this large garden wall. The loft space was huge, but smaller than the others. Despite being smaller, it was still large and roomy with a small room that had skylights.

“I think that smaller room was once some offices. It would make a lovely breakfast room or atrium.” Maria watched the women looking around. She handed Isabel the keycard for the security system. “This place is for survivors. People like me, Michael, Margo, Mrs. Mulhoney and Zeke. I think that this is the perfect place for you, Isabel. For both you and Liz. I’ll leave you to look around. Just shut the door on your way out.”

Isabel looked at the place. She could see the new loft--the upper bedrooms, the large bath and the open living room and kitchen. It was light and full of plants with the garden outside. It was clean, fresh and alive with possibilities.

“Maria, you said a deal? What is the deal?” Isabel asked wanting to be clear exactly what Maria wanted and needed from them.

Maria just smiled and headed outside. “Come back to my place when you’re finished and we’ll talk terms. But basically, I’ll get you into this loft, renovated how you want it, if you help me get my mother married by Saturday.” Liz and Isabel watched Maria leave and both women turned to look around the large open area.

“I was thinking for the upper loft we could have stairs going up on both sides and the two rooms can have their own bathroom.” Isabel said.

“Do you want the side over there or here?” asked Liz.

“I was thinking over here with the kitchen under it.” Liz just shook her head.

“I think we should put the living room under it for a nice intimate feeling, plus if we put the kitchen under the loft our bedrooms will smell like cooking.” Liz looked at Isabel. “Think we can have a fireplace like Maria’s?”

“Definitely a fireplace. How do you feel about ceiling fans?”

“I like. But no track lighting!” Isabel immediately agreed to that.

“Or pastels.”

Liz frowned at Isabel. “What’s wrong with pastels?” Isabel just made a face. “Izzy, do you own any furniture?”

“We’ll have to go shopping!”

~~~

Sean finally made it back to the PD and found Michael and Max hard at work. They had a pile of computer-generated pictures from the video cameras the night before. Michael was on the phone harassing the lab techs as Max sorted through the pictures looking at people he recognized from the previous evening.

“Hey, partners, where’s Chicken Little?” Sean asked tossing himself in his chair behind his desk.

“He flew the coop when you weren’t watching. It seems Kyle has decided to be sick for the next few days.” Michael informed Sean. Sean just nodded distractedly as he looked through his black book. Michael slammed down his phone cutting off the whining voice of the lab technician. “Who the hell gave Parker the day off? I thought Mouse lived down there. And Kyle? I’m suspecting someplace requiring air flight.”

Both Sean and Max looked up at that. “Flying? Kyle is flying somewhere?” Sean frowned. He knew that technically he was partnered with the deadly duo and Kyle, but for all intents and purposes, Kyle was his partner. He could’ve said something.

“Just a guess, but I could almost smell the honey roasted onboard complimentary peanuts over the phone, along with giddy giggling from whom I’m assuming is either Tess or some honey Kyle picked up to make himself feel better after Tess gave him his walking papers. My money is on Tess being AWOL as well.”

“Tess?” Max suddenly took more notice. Tess was flying somewhere with Kyle and his child was along for the ride?

“Yeah, looks like Tess and Kyle had more of a past than I knew about, at least enough of one for them to actually roll around in my bedsheets half the f-ucking weekend.” Michael didn’t even bother to control the outrage he felt.

Sean’s mouth lifted on the side in a smirk. “Well, guess that means we have to graduate my partner to ‘big boy’ status when he gets back.” Sean ignored Max’s brooding look. “So are ya thinking Reno or Vegas?”

“Married? You saying they got married?” Max sat there in shock. It was hard to digest. He knew Tess and Kyle had a past, but they both said they were just friends. This put a new crease in Max’s life. His child raised by Tess and another man, even if that man was Kyle. Suddenly the reason for all the tension between him and Kyle over the last week was clear. Kyle was afraid the baby would push Tess back into Max’s arms.

Michael dug a candy bar out of his personal stash and tossed the nasty ones to Sean and Max. He kept his peanut ones close to the vest. “Not for sure, but it sounds like a nice office pool to me. I’ve got a C note that says, Reno, ten a.m. this morning, and the bride and groom are wearing sappy smiles.”

Sean laughed. “I’ll see that, but I’m going with Sin City, Elvis Chapel, two in the afternoon, and the bride and groom are wearing nothing.”

Max quickly placed his bet for Vegas, Elvis Chapel, ten a.m., and they rented the tux and dress from the establishment. Sean marked it down and went to find others to join in the pool.

Michael looked over at his quiet partner. “You okay, Maxwell?”

“Just...I don’t know, shocked?” Max leaned on his desk. “I’m just getting used to the idea of becoming a father, and an unmarried one. It’s hard. I don’t have this connection you seem to have with your unborn child. I feel him and I know he’s mine, but I’m lacking a connection. Now it looks like Kyle going to get it instead and he’s going to be ‘daddy’, so I’m uncertain where that leaves me.”

Michael looked at his partner in sympathy. Max hadn’t said too much about his baby since he found out, but it looked like he was slowly warming to the idea. Michael couldn’t imagine...actually he could, and that was the problem. He could imagine his reaction to another man raising his child. There was no light in that dark place.

“Max, look, I know this is difficult. I know how I’d feel, but I know Tess. I’ve gotten to know her over the last year. She’s good people. I can’t see either Tess or Kyle excluding you from this baby. I think they’re going to follow your lead and let you decide how much you want to be involved.” Michael thought about it. Tess was a nice person. He couldn’t see her shutting Max out. “The door, it’s there. You just have to knock.”

“I know you’re right. I’ve been dragging my heels on this. I guess it’s hard to imagine a child of mine being raised in a house across town. I just thought it would be different, that it would be more like when I was a kid. Isabel and I were really happy with our parents, and they were there in the middle of the night when monsters took up residence under your bed. I can’t understand what it’s going to mean not being there when he wakes up afraid or sick.”

Michael patted his partner on the shoulder in sympathy. “It’ll work out. You’ll see. One thing I’m positive about is that a kid is never hurt by too many people loving them.” Michael stopped talking and suddenly looked around, his nostrils flaring. “What the hell is that smell?”

Max watched amused as Michael’s eyes narrowed and he turned around until his eyes spied a man who had just exited the elevator. Hanson. Hanson in a Hawaiian shirt, a sunburn and a straw hat.

“Hanson! I should’ve known that stench would be you!” Michael bellowed. “Is that coconut butter I smell? You better have brought me some macadamia nuts.”

Max just laughed as Michael went off to terrorize the other man. Sean was watching too and he took the opportunity to go talk to Cap.

“Sean?” Jim looked up at Sean in his doorway. “Something?”

“Yeah. I need a few days of scat time.”

Jim’s eyes narrowed. “You hitting the streets? Why ?”

“The DA's case soured. Her biggest hold is keeping the search warrant, but the witness, Perdy, has gone south and without him the warrant might be overturned. If she loses Physical the case is a wash.”

“Did he run?”

“Taken. Snatched from protective, right under the DA's nose. ADA MacLeod has ‘kindly’ asked me to find her witness. She got a three day continuance, but if her witness isn’t under roost by then, this is a goner.”

Jim just nodded and sat back in his chair. “Pierce?”

Sean nodded and sat on the conference desk. “Yeah, some of his goons. I’m thinking that Perdy has a short lifeline. Pierce will hold him on ice until the case is dead, then Perdy is dead.” Sean looked at Cap. “Places are limited. They moved him fast, and once legal dropped the ball, word was sent. They put it out there on the wire and everyone was looking. DA holds some clout and power. Somehow that gave Pierce’s men only a short time to get out and get back undercover.”

“So you think they pigeoned locally?”

“I’m saying.” Sean searched for that imaginary cigarette again. “It has to be local, and that means that green street must be seeing, but no one is talking. I called my snitches looking for some fat and I’ve got a few leads.”

“I hear Kyle is gone.” Jim rubbed his head. He needed to talk to his son about taking off in the middle of a large murder case, but if the rumors were true, he might have to make a lenient decision and only make Kyle work nights for two weeks. “I can’t release Guerin and Evans. The murder case is more important, and if Guerin knows it's Pierce he’ll go for guns.”

“I’m better on my own. I can walk it quicker, softer and in the shadows. Come Thursday it will be a done deal one way or the other.”

Jim looked at his soon to be nephew and frowned. “How’s therapy coming? You okay out there on your own?”

“Surprisingly therapy’s been...helpful. I hate the mother-f-ucker Guerin set me up with. Bastard just ignores my whining and looks like he’s not above smacking me around. Now how’s a man supposed to recover with all these people offering him sweets and goodies?”

Jim just laughed. “Seriously, Sean, are you okay on your own?”

“Yeah, I’ll walk with my eye on the sparrow.” Suicide. The Big Sleep. Tempting, but no. Sean was more afraid of meeting Cassie in Hell and being under her whip again. It was best to walk that line between Heaven and Hell.

“Can you pick up cover from friends in Vice?”

“Not possible. Their Department is in turmoil.”

“I heard. Three informants turned on Strickland. He’s rushing to clean house. IA is pulling in everyone for questioning. Surprised they haven’t hit you yet.”

“They will. Vice runs safehouses with DA. It was one of their coops that was taken down when Perdy flew. That usually means inside intel. IA is shaking the rafters for the leaks, and word is that StrickDick is backpedaling.” Sean just shrugged. “When the case went sour, names were named in coercion. My name was one of them. Stricks going to want to pin me as his sacrificial goat.”

“That’s not going to happen, son.” Jim eyes became fierce. Sean knew the lay of the land, but Jim wasn’t exactly powerless.

“Thanks, Cap. Anyway, I’m going to knock it down on Sweet Street, and follow the leads. I’ll try to check back in by tomorrow, early.”

“Nope. Not unprotected. I can’t give you Guerin, but I still want your beeper on and active. I expect call-ins every six hours, and if you find the hideaway, you’re to call it in and wait for assistance.” Jim looked at Sean with some powerful authoritive eyes. “I’m walking down the aisle this coming Saturday, and my bride needs you to give her away. Don’t mess up my wedding.”

“This Saturday?” Sean just laughed. “Oh, I am definitely sleeping on the streets this week. My aunt must be looking for helpers by now.” Jim just nodded. He had barely seen Amy since Saturday and when he did, she was sniffing aromatic crap and breathing in a paper bag. “Wonder what poor schmucks got roped into The Wedding plans?” Jim didn’t know. He was only certain that he was staying clear.

Sean on his way out the door looked at Jim and smiled a purely devious and mischievous smile. “You know with Kyle on the lam, me off looking for Perdy, Guerin and Evans might be a little short-handed watching the club and stuff.”

“And?” Jim didn’t know where this was going, but he was interested to find out.

“I’m just saying, they might need some help.” Sean scratched his neck and tried to appear innocent. “Hanson’s back and I understand that he’s color-coded all the files on the floor. He might be needing more stakeout experience, and who better to train him than Michael?” Sean walked away whistling with an evil smile as the Cap took care of business.

“Guerin, get your ugly head in here and bring Evans. Hanson! You too!”